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Two-term Alexandria School Board Member Jacinta Greene vies for City Council

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Council candidate and School Board Member Jacinta Greene and her supporters marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 2, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Jacinta Greene says that her two three-year terms on the Alexandria School Board have prepared her for City Council.

Greene faces 10 opponents for the six City Council spots in contention for the June 18 primary. She’s running against four incumbent City Council Members, against a fellow School Board Member, two candidates who are running for their second chance at the nomination after losing in 2021, and some newcomers. She’s raised about $50,000 for her campaign, and as of June 5 has about $31,000 in the bank, according to recently released quarterly finance reports.

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ACPS community members share concerns about English Learner job cuts and leadership shakeup

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Teachers and other Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) community members spoke at a School Board meeting last week to express anger and disappointment at restructuring inside school leadership.

Much of the criticism focused on the budget cuts (page 352) to the Teaching, Learning and Leadership team, which saw a net loss of four English Learner (EL) Services positions.

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PHOTOS: More than 800 Alexandria City High School seniors graduate at GMU’s EagleBank Arena

By James Cullum
ACHS graduate Torenzo Ricks hugs executive principal Alexander Duncan III onstage at GMU's EagleBank Arena, June 1, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

More than 800 Alexandria City High School students walked the stage at today’s graduation at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena.

ACHS executive principal Alexander Duncan III said that the day marked a defining moment in the lives of the 841 graduates.

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PHOTOS: City leaders cut ribbon at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus

By James Cullum
Current and former Alexandria leaders at the ribbon cutting for Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

After two years under construction, city leaders cut the ribbon today on Alexandria City High School’s new Minnie Howard Campus.

The $190 million project for the 343,000-square-foot, five-story satellite campus can hold up to 1,600 students — double the capacity of its 1950’s-era predecessor. The building will be home to six career and technical education academies, which administrators say will allow students to pursue their interests.

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ACPS budget with staff raises goes into final stages after nod from City Council

By James Cullum
School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Staff raises and market rate adjustments are a few of the proposed highlights after Alexandria City Public Schools got the green light last week by City Council to add $273.03 million to its combined funds budget.

The $14.3 million increase over the current ACPS budget comes at considerable cost to the taxpayer, as last week City Council approved a 2.5-cent tax increase to pay for it and other city services.

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Alexandria schools take lion’s share of planned tax rate increase, but it’s still less than School Board hoped

By Vernon Miles
The first day at school at George Mason Elementary School, Aug. 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is the biggest winner of a 2.5 cent tax rate increase being considered by City Council, but it still falls short of the budget voted on by the School Board.

The School Board voted earlier this year to request $384.4 million from the City Council — $21 million more than previous budgets and double the budget proposed by Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt. Mayor Justin Wilson previously said that fulfilling that budget request would require an unprecedented 6-cent tax increase.

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Alexandria School Board Member Tim Beaty just won a special election and says he’s running for reelection

By James Cullum
Tim Beaty is the new District A School Board member (via ACPS)

Alexandria School Board Member Tim Beaty just won his special election in January, and now he tells us that he’s running for reelection in November.

Beaty won a special election on Jan. 9 to fill the District A seat vacated by former School Board Member Willie Bailey. He was sworn in days later, and said he would spend the next several months learning the intricacies of Alexandria City Public Schools before deciding on whether to run for reelection on Nov. 5.

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Jefferson-Houston Elementary School administrators put on leave after autistic 4-year-old walked away from school

By James Cullum
Brianna Davis-Suggs was reunited with her daughter, four-year-old Riley, who walked away from Jefferson Houston Elementary School on March 19, 2024 (courtesy photo)

A four-year-old student with autism walked away from Jefferson-Houston Elementary School in Old Town last month and was found barefoot in the middle the street by a school bus driver near the King Street Metro station.

A number of school officials were consequently placed on administrative leave by Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt.

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Abdel Elnoubi says his Alexandria City Council campaign is a ‘tale of two cities’

By James Cullum
Alexandria School Board Member Abdel Elnoubi at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council candidate Abdel Elnoubi has been making legislative waves recently as a member of the School Board, and says residents should expect the same kind of results if he gets elected.

Elnoubi is one of 11 Democrats running to fill six seats on City Council, including four incumbent Council members running for reelection in the Democratic primary on June 18. The field also includes Jacinta Greene, a fellow School Board Member.

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ACPS reaches ‘milestone moment’ with passage of collective bargaining resolution

By James Cullum
School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria School Board unanimously approved a collective bargaining resolution Thursday night, setting the ground rules for how the school system will negotiate with staff on wages and benefits.

Dawn Lucas, president of the Education Association of Alexandria, was pleased with a number of changes that she recommended the Board make to the proposed resolution.

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Alexandria City High School teacher Eva Irwin wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award

By James Cullum
Alexandria City High School teacher Eva Irwin wins the $25,000 Milken Educator Award, March 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School English teacher Eva Irwin was at a loss for words when her name was called and the packed gymnasium erupted in applause.

This afternoon at a school assembly, Irwin was recognized as a top-tier teacher and surprised with the $25,000 Milken Educator Award.

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